Prevent Mussels & Protect California Waterways from Invasive Species
Don’t Let Mussels Muscle In On Our California Waterways!
If you have a boat in California, you’ve heard about Aquatic Invasive Species which include the Golden, Quagga and Zebra Mussels . According to California State Parks, “These pests can increase dramatically under the right conditions, displacing native species, clogging waterways and creating hazardous conditions for navigation and recreation. Once introduced, they are nearly impossible to eradicate.” The good news? There is a solution!
3 Ways Mussels Can Cause Major Problems
They mussels may look inoffensive, but these are all nasty buggers. The spread of mussels costs millions of dollars by clogging engines and encrusting boats and facilities, disrupting the food chain, interrupting sport fishing and other water recreational activities, and littering beaches with smelly and sharp-edged shells.
1. Damage
Adult mussels attach to everything: water intakes, marina structures, boat hulls, and engines requiring expensive decontamination and repair. Mussels are known for rapidly colonizing any available hard surface, which jeopardizes built infrastructure in any infested water bodies such as docks, boats and more.
2. Boat Infestation
Larva, also known as veligers, are drawn into ballast tanks and boat engines where, if the water is not drained, the larva will grow into adults and damage recreational equipment. Infested boats can be banned from a majority of lakes and water recreational areas, not just in California, but in other states as well.
California State Parks provides a list of restrictions and requirements for Reservoir Contact and Watercraft Inspection Information. Plan to check back for regular updates.
3. Ecosystem Suckers
Mussels feed by continuously filtering up to one liter of water per day. This can deprive other native aquatic species of resources necessary for survival, causing irreversible ecosystem changes, and loss of all native species.
The good news?
Per the CA State Parks, when exposed to sufficiently high hot water temperatures – 120oF or higher – the mussels and their larvae are killed both on the exterior of the boat, and through flushing out the water containing areas.
Pacific Bay Equipment can help! Our industrial hot water pressure washer inventory, available in mobile and stationary models including all-electric and battery-powered, rapidly heats water to 170 degrees or higher. The pressure washer works to effectively decontaminate the vessel’s exterior, and can be used to flush water-containing areas.
As a market leader in industrial cleaning equipment, we’re proud to have served California for over 35 years.
